West Windsor, N.J. - The Robert Morris University men's tennis team opened play in the 2012 Northeast Conference championships Friday with a 4-2 setback to No. 2 seed Quinnipiac at the Mercy County Tennis Center.

RMU slips to 5-17 overall on the 2011-12 season with the defeat.

Entering the tournament as the No. 7 seed, the Colonials picked up victories at the No. 1 and No. 3 singles flights, but the Bobcats clinched the win and advanced by securing the doubles point.

Junior Jose Limon (Colonia San Jose, Mexico) has come on strong for Robert Morris down the stretch of the 2011-12 campaign, and his solid play continued in the NEC Tournament as he defeated Andrew Weeden at the No. 1 flight with ease, 6-2 and 6-2.

Junior Andre Coiro (Rio De Janeiro, Brazil) backed up the win by Limon at the No. 1 singles flight by earning a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Garrett Lane at No. 3.

Limon, who is 7-3 in singles play over his last 10 matches, also teamed with sophomore Ricardo Horlle (Curitiba Parana, Brazil) to hold a 7-5 lead at the No. 2 doubles flight but the match would remain unfinished after the Bobcats clinched the doubles point with a win at the No. 3 flight.

Robert Morris will now take part in the consolation match Saturday afternoon and will square off with in-state rival Saint Francis (Pa.) in a match that will start around 2:00 p.m.